Musical instrument



Dec. 20, 1927.

W. M. GRIFFIN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT I Filed July 31. 1926 1 VEI VTOR. yh, I

Patented Dec. 20, 1 927.

UNITED STATES WAYNE M. GRIFFIN, 0F MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Application filed July 31,

This invention relates to musical instruments of the type designedto be held in or againstthe mouth and to be operated by blowing. p

It is the chief object of the invention to devise an instrument of this type with which unusual musical results can be produced, and which at the same time can be manufactured economically.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the ac oompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an instrument constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical, central, cross-sectional view of the device shown in Fig. l illustrating the device on a somewhat larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4: is a perspective view showing a ,modified embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view ofa part of the device shown in Fig. 4; and i Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figs/l, 2 and'ihthe construction there shown comprises a thin leaf-like reed 2 mounted in a holder which comprises a reed protector 3 and a bearing piece 4. The feed, as shown, is of approximately semi circular shape, and it prefer ably is made of some very thin resilient sheet material, such as thin celluloichfairly stiff bond paper, or the like. A thin sheet of white birch bark makes a good reed, although for most purposes it is preferable to use celluloid of from say,about three-thousandths to seven-thousandths of an inch in thickness. The reed protector 3 should be made of some resilient material, rubber of about the resiliency used in rubberbands or automobile tires being preferred. This protector has an aperture therethrough, the walls 5 of which preferably are bevelled, and when the device is at rest the curved edge of the reed bears against the bevelled wall 5 and closes the aperture.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

1926. Serial No. 126,113.

The bearing pieced; may be made of either relatively inelastic material or it may be made of the same material as the protector In fact, the parts 3 and 4 can be madeintegral, but the part at is of such proportions that it is relatively rigid. As shown in Figs, 3

in the reed protector lies above the upper edge of the bearing piece 4, and that the surfaces of this part adjacent to the reed are rounded smoothly, as indicated at 7 in Fig. 2. Preferably this part 4.- has a shallow smoothly curved notch 8, Fig. 3, formed in the central portion thereof and appr0ximately opposite the middle of the aperture in the protector 3.

Secured to the parts 3. and l by the rivets 66 is ametal plate 9 which projects down somewhat below the lower edges of the me1nbers 3 and 4, and this part is provided with offset ears or lugsld-ltl which are positioned at opposite sides of the aperture in the protector 3.

In using the device theplate 9 is inserted in the mouth with the lower edge of the plate outside the. lower teeth and the lower lip bearing against the lower outer surface of the part 4. The upper teeth rest between the lugs 10-1O and the rearward surface of the reed protector 3 with the upper lip bearing against the rear surface of the reed pro tector By blowing properly through the instrument the reed is vibrated,'thus pro? ducing musical notes. The tones can be changed partly by varying the velocity of the air and the shaping of the mouth, and partly, also, by pressing with the upper lip against the upper part of the reed protector 3 and thus bending the reed more or less over the upper rounded surfaces .7 of the bearing piece 4. It will be observed that since the base of the reed is anchored between the bearing piece 4; and the reed protector 3, the bending of this reed forward or toward the right, Fig. 2, over the bearing piece will have the effect of shortening the reed and thus changing its tone. 1

The mouth and tongue should be shaped somewhat as in saying caw or kor, with the upper lip pressing against the curved ling, but at the same time pressing againstthe reed protector to shorten the reed for higher tones and relieving the pressure more or less to alloiv the reed to lengthen for lower tones. The tone resembles somewhat that of an oboe and can be produced insufficient volume to carry a p art in an orchestra, or with sufficient softness to accompany one or two other instruments. Trills, yodles, and unique effects can 'also'be made. Three or four notes can be produced without consciously changing thetension on thereed or its length. The reeds also can be changed whenever desired simply by taking one out and inserting a new one, the reeds being held in place by friction. Obviously also the device can be played by "singing into it as in playing a zobo, gazoo, or the like.

'It is not necessary to use the plate 9 and lugs 10, but the instrument can be held against the mouth with one hand.

In order to direct and amplify the tones,

the instrument may be combined with a horn 12, as shown in Figs. 4 and-5. In such a construction it is preferable to mount the parts 3 and 4t in a metal clip'1'3 which is supported on a pivot pin 14! so that the instrument can swing toward and-from its operative position to facilitate changing the reeds. The pivot pin 14- may be supported in cars 1515 formed inthe metal plate 16 which is riveted in the mouth piece of the horn, one end of this plate beingturned upwardly, as shown at 17, Fig. 5, to form a stop for the instrument, limiting its swinging movement in one direction. When the device is in use the reed protector lies at approximately right angles to the axis of the horn. Y Instead of mounting the protector 3 in the manner above described, it can be sup ported in a metal socket member 18 as shown in ig. 6. The outer part this member is shaped as shown at 19 to provide a bearing surface for the reed 2 approximately like the bearing surface 7 of the part 4.

While I'have herein shown and described the best embodiment of my inventionthat I have sofar devised, it will be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in other forms without departing from thespirit or scope thereof.

Having thus described'my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. A musical instrument of the character described comprising a leaf-like reed, and a holder for said reed including a reed protector and a bearing piece, the base of said reed being secured. between said protector and said bearing piece leaving the upper part of the reed free to vibrate, said reed protector being made of resilient material and having an aperture therethrough which normally is substantially closed by the reed, said protector having a surface opposite to the reed, suitably constructed to be pressed againstthe lip of the user in playing the instrument.

2. A musical instrument of the character described comprising a leaf-like reed, and

a holder for said reed including a reed protector and a bearing piece, the base of said reed being secured between said protector and said bearing piece leaving the upper part of the reed free to vibrate, said reed protector having an aperture therethrough for the passage of a blast of air serving to vibrate the reed and being made of resilient material whereby it may be bent to cause said reed to'bend more or less over said bearing piece, and said bearing piece having a curved surface adjacent to said reed to engage the base of said reed, whereby the vibrating portion of said reed will beshortened as it is bent over said bearing piece.

3. A musical instrument of the character described comprising a relatively rigid bearing member, a reed protector secured to said bearing member and projecting upwardly above the same, and a reed having base portion secured between said protector and said bearing HlQIl'lbGlfSiLld protector being made of resilient material and having an aperture tl'ierethrough provided with bevelled walls against which the free-edge of said reed normally bears.

a. A musical instrument of the character described comprising a relatively rigid bearing member, a reed protector secured to said bearing member and projecting upwardly above the same, the surfaces of said bearing member adjacent to said protector being rounded, said reed protector having an aperture thercthrough the greater portion of which is positioned above said bearing member, and a leaf-like reed having its base portion secured between said protector and said bearing memberwith its free edge normally bearing against said reed protector, said reed protector being made of resilient material and having a'surface opposite to said. hearing member suitably constructed to be pressed against the upper lip-of the user in playing the instrument.

'5. A musical instrument of the character described, comprising a reed and a holder in'which the base of said reed is mounted, said holder including a reed protector made of resilient material and having an a erture therethrough, and a bearing mem er,

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said reed being secured between the protector and the bearing member and having a vibrating portion which normally substantially closes said aperture.

6. In a musical instrument of the character described, comprising a reed protector and a bearing member secured to said reed protector, and a reed secured bet-ween saidmember and said protector, said protector being made of resilient material and having 10 holder suitably constructed and capable of 15 attachment to an amplifier.

WVAYNE M. GRIFFIN. 

